However, Castro remained the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, the most senior position in the country.

[4] The other 50% of candidates are proposed by candidacy commissions which comprise representatives of workers, youth, women, students, and farmers, as well as members of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.

All voters must be Cuban citizens who have reached the age of 16 years, who have not been declared mentally disabled by a court, and who have not committed a crime.

To be declared elected, one candidate must obtain more than 50% of the valid votes cast in the constituency in which they are running.

If this is not attained, the seat in question remains vacant unless the Council of State decides to hold a second round of voting.